MARK PETTINI(Essex, right-hand batsman, age 24)Nick Knight says:‘He had a tough time last year when he was handed the captaincy at a very young age. That affected his batting but he’s come back strong this season and his 144 against Surrey in the Friends Provident Trophy was some innings.

‘I like what I see at Essex at the minute and there are some very talented players in their ranks and I’m sure Mark will mature in the role as captain.’

TIM BRESNAN(Yorkshire, all-rounder, 23)’He’s an interesting one. He can no longer be classed as the rookie we once had him down as and he might just emerge onto the scene this year.

‘He is bowling very well and that is what he should concentrate on, with his batting complementing that.

‘He has 13 wickets in the championship already and the fact his average is 19 tells us he is bowling well with great control.

‘If he can remain consistent with the ball and chip in a few runs with the bat, I envisage a really big future for Tim as a genuine all-rounder is a very valuable commodity in cricket.’

CHARLIE SCHRECK(Notts, bowler, 30)’He’s been around for quite a ­while and I like where he is at the minute.

‘The Notts attack has a really good feel about it at the minute and the fact Charlie, who has 16 championship wickets already (update), is leading it ahead of Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom says a lot.

‘I can see ­comparisons with Sidebottom as he has also been around the county circuit for a while and maybe he can follow his county team-mates into the England set-up? He’s a giant of a man and at 6ft 7ins the bounce he can generate is such an asset for a bowler.’

JAMES HILDRETH(Somerset, right-hand bat, 23)’I’ve not seen much of James but I know Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer rate him highly.

‘His knock of 158 against the champions Sussex this season was a good innings and that will stand him in good stead for the rest of the season.

‘Taunton’s pitch is always a good one for batsman but you still have to score them and with age on his side, and the experience of Langer and Trescothick to draw on, James has an exciting future.’

Metro’s Circketer of the Year award is in association with Sky Sports.

In the first year, the Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme reached more than 5,500 coaches throughout the country.

This year, the scheme will look to reach a further 5,500 cricket coaches, involving schools and clubs nationwide.

There are 500 planned courses for new coaches to qualify taking place throughout the country.

Sky Sports are one of the major contributors towards ECB grassroots cricket, whose participation figures rose by 27 per cent in the last year.